Members of SkillsUSA visit Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Joe Waske, Byesville Rotary President; George Bell, SkillsUSA advisor; Denzel Davis, SkillsUSA President; Cory Hanning, SkillsUSA treasurer; and Dr. Joe Smith, Speaker Host.

Two students from Mid-East Technical and Career Center, Buffalo Campus, explained to the Byesville Rotary how the student organization, SkillsUSA, helps develop student skills and encourage all members to become active examples of the organization’s motto “Champions at Work.”

Denzel Davis is president of the Buffalo Campus organization. He is a senior in the dental assisting program. Cory Hanning, also a senior, is the treasurer. He is in the commercial art program. Both students plan to continue their education at a college or university. They were accompanied by George Bell, the group advisor, and Dan Coffman, Director of the Buffalo Campus.

The students, wearing distinctive red, SkillsUSA sports jackets talked about their recent trip to Washington DC. They represented the local SkillsUSA group at a leadership training conference. Trip requirements included that the students wear the official SkillsUSA jacket and have an “elevator speech” ready to explain the purpose of the organization when they were asked what the jackets represented. An “elevator speech” is a short—60 second—explanation of the SkillsUSA organization and its goals.

About 23 clubs were chosen internationally to attend the Washington DC Leadership Conference. The trip to Washington provided experience in many areas. Students attended leadership training sessions. Representatives from the Buffalo group visited Senator Sherrod Brown’s office and got experience in lobbying by presenting arguments for the continued support of the SkillsUSA program. Twenty three clubs, including the Buffalo Campus group, were chosen to participate in laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

SkillsUSA is a vocational/leadership club for students. The goal of the organization is to help students enrolled in trade and industrial education develop leadership skills, create respect for the dignity of work, help students attain a purposeful life, and inspire enthusiasm for learning.

Every year new officers are elected to represent the student membership. SkillsUSA also sponsors competitions in each trade area as well as leadership skills. All of the elections and competitions are held at the local, regional, state, and national levels. These competitions inspire a desire for excellence in the group members.

If Denzel and Cory are an indication, the organization is successfully meeting its goals. The Buffalo Campus has 200 students participating in the SkillsUSA organization.

The club’s next meeting will be 7:30 am, February 24, 2011, at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Larry Miller, 740-439-2767.